Gulls and cliffs

I occasionally do watercolours. The one above is a mixture of wet in wet technique and dry on top. It gives a soft atmospheric feel appropriate for the subject. This was quite a large watercolour which can be difficult to control and prevent cockling (the wrinking of a paper that means, in my eyes anyway the painting should be thrown away). Its all down to preparation and a bit of luck!

Painting of the Dunbrody

When I was in Ireland at the weekend we passed New Ross and I saw an old friend I had previously painted. The replica famine ship Dunbrody is alongside the wharf there. I had painted her under sail in moonlight about 10 years ago. The painting is sold. Anyway it was nice to see her albeit we were only passing through.

Pro 12 Final - Happy Days

I just spent a weekend in Dublin watching the Pro12 Final between Munster and Scarlets. I went with my son and we had a great time. The weather  was pretty good we had great company and of course the game was spectacular. The little watercolour sketch above shows 3 Scarlets players.

Anyway Happy Days!

HMS Dark Hero

I had intended to post three paintings of Dublin Bay I was commissioned to do about 14 years ago but I can't find the images. Anyway the image above is of a watercolour sketch I did for a painting of a warship that was in the Milfod Haven Waterway for a year or so. I think it was used to tow targets for the range. In the end I never did the painting but I thought the sketch was worth posting in its own right. I believe this may have been HMS Dark Hero?

Isle of Inishmore

The above painting is an old one of The Isle of Inishmore in The Milford Haven waterway. I have seen the vessel on many occasions but have never been on the ferry to Ireland. I am about to put that right tomorrow. The painting was never framed and eventually discarded to the best of my recollection.

Sketch of Rhian

It is our youngest daughters birthday today and our third youngest grandson so I wish them a happy birthday. Yesterday was spent sorting out an important trip, all arranged now.
We then went to watch the eldest grandson play football. We checked our stock in the gallery and collected the fourth youngest grandchild from school.

Today I have a piano lesson and Alex is making cards.

St. David's Cathedral

The above painting is of St Davids Cathedral by early morning light. It was done about 10 years ago. The painting is not in my usual style or palette. I don't believe it was ever framed and I no longer have it.

Our 12year old grandson asked his mother, "Where are my socks for school I can't find them?"
"They are in the tumble dryer."
  Pause.
"Mom where's the tumble dryer?"

It is not hereditary.

Marloes

The above is a painting of Marloes Beach. I did it about 4 years ago and it is sold. Yesterday wasn't a lucky day for me. I (reluctantly) went to mow the lawns (sorry grass). The lawnmower started then stopped with a bit of a mechanical noise. It refused to start and had no real compression so I think it has gone to lawnmower heaven. I then went on my computer and the monitor packed up! I decided not to touch anything else other than a book for the rest of the day.

On the way back from France I was again stopped at passport control and taken away for checking much to the concern of Alex. All was well but it is ironic considering my previous occupation that I am confused with sort some of nefarious ne'er do well.

Red Red Wine

We have been away for a week in Bordeaux where we spent the majority of time visiting wineries.
I am now very knowledgeable about wine production and the different grape varieties. The only real shame is I wasn't really keen on the red wine. I like red wine but the Bordeaux is quite tannin for my personal taste and the more expensive the wine the worse I thought it was! Anyway the white was fine and the Sauternes were good with savoury and sweet food in small quantities. We had a good time and met some lovely people.

We did miss the Scarlets v. Leinster game but our son kept me updated in live time. Brilliant game.

The painting.. is an old one which is still on the wall.

Blackpool Mill

I heard recently that Blackpool Mill Pembrokeshire is now subject to a planning application for a holiday company to bring it back to life. If this is done tastefully then I can see it would be a benefit to the area bringing jobs and a purpose to the old building. I did the watercolour a good few years back on a walk.

I no longer have the painting.

Gulls on the shoreline

The above painting shows the flocks of gulls and other sea birds on the shoreline at Cefn Sidan.
Jac always runs at them and they mock him flying in circles until he has run out of steam.
The painting is a few years old and is sold.

Llansteffan Church

This is a watercolour and ink of the Church at Llansteffan. I was commissioned to do this although I cannot recall who it was for. I have given permission for the image to be used on wedding invitations on a couple of occasions.  It is not possible to get a photograph of this view as there are trees in the way and I had to virtually remove them to do the painting.

Painting of Crow on foreshore

You don't just get seabirds on the beach and the dark colours of crows and rooks make a good contrast to a very light beach particulary if you include a reflection.
The picture is a simple one but has its own charm. It is sold.

Grandchildren

When we have grandchildren we often find the best place to let them run wild is on the beach and we have several nearby. It is a good time to get a quick watercolour sketch.

Sea Birds and Cliffs Pembrokeshire

This is another watercolour scene inspired by the Pembrokeshire Coast. The painting is sold.
It is a different palette to my normal colours.

Painting of Yacht on its moorings

I have been commissioned to paint all sorts of things including restaurant signs to artists impressions of proposed buildings along with designing logos etc all interesting but now I limit myself to just paintings. The above commission was done a few years ago of a yacht on its moorings for its owner.

Walking the dog in the rain.

Ah well a bit of rain never did any harm and we have had a good few days of warmth and sunshine so no complaints. The painting above shows a walk by the sea with the dog. It was done a couple of years ago and  is sold.

There is an election on and I am fed up with it already. It's hardly worth turning on the TV or listening to the radio. The sooner its all over the better.

Painting of Broadhaven

The above painting of Broadhaven sold this week. A lovely spot on the Pembrokeshire Coast.
We have camped not far from here and walked the coastal path. We have also sailed across the bay on many occasions.

Coastal watercolour

I did the above watercolour a few years ago it when we still had a sailing boat. The Coast of Pembrokeshire is inspirational from the land and the sea.  I like this style of watercolour as it makes the most of an atmospheric subject. The sea birds were drawn in first with masking fluid and then some areas for the breaking water. Then watercolours were added to a wet sky. Rocks were added on a dry surface then the sea. Then the masking fluid was rubbed off leaving white paper.

Reading half a book

I only really read books when I am on holiday. I find so many other things to do when I am at home I really don't get around to reading especially as I like to read the book pretty well all through. I can generally read a book in a day or day and a half.

For some reason I started to read a book yesterday. It was about a Ship of War during the Wars with the French. The first three chapters were good as the ship tried to outrun two French Frigates.

Then the next couple of chapters were about a family at home in England. Basically the affairs of three sisters in what probably passes as romance.  Now if I wanted to read a period novel about the affairs of a middle class family I would choose one of the Bronte Sisters.

Not to be be put off I decided to read half the book and skip all the chapters that were about three sisters. And it worked. The painting was done a good number of years back as an exercise and is based on the clippers by Montague Dawson.

Painting of fishing boat TN 10

I fancied a change of subject so I have painted a fishing boat against the harbour wall. This gave a lot of contrast which made for a good composition. The actual harbour was Saundersfoot although I believe the fishing registration "TN 10" is Troon. Anyway it came out ok.

At the weekend Alex went to Bristol to visit our eldest and see two grandchildren. It was a birthday celebration and Alex took a lot of photos outside of our youngest granddaughter. It was very sunny and it can be difficult oe impossible to see the screen on a phone when taking pictures so she took a lot. Anyway when she finally got to look at them she found she had taken endless selfies! (obviously unbeknown to her she had selected the wrong lense).

Painting of Bluebell Woods

It was an excellent day yesterday. I delivered a ton of cards and had a lovely walk on the beach with Jac.
I was informed the above painting had sold and found a new owner. Then I went to Parc Y Scarlets. The family pretty well take up one row and sat in the sunshine on a balmy day where we had a feast of outstanding rugby. Well done Scarlets.

I woke up this morning and wondered if it had all been a dream, but no real enough.

On days like these.

Scarlets v Ospreys

Ah yes well today I have to deliver cards to the Village Stores Llansteffan and take advantage of the beach for Jac to have a run. Then I am taking to of the grandchildren to watch the Scarlets and Ospreys. There are a number of the family going and we pretty much have a row of seats. It should be a good game of rugby.

Painting of City Hall Cardiff

The above painting is of City Hall Cardiff. I am not sure why I painted it but Cardiff is one of my favourite cities. We enjoy going there to watch the rugby and we always take time to visit the National Museum which has a fabulous collection of paintings.

I did a series of paintings in this format for an exhibition a couple of years back and I think it is somewhere in the house.

Reflection

I was wondering what I could post today. May be its a day for measured reflection. There is a lot of uncertainty and danger currently. So I thought about all those that have sacrificed for us to live a full and hopefully peaceful life. 

The painting above is one I did of the memorial to those that died from Kidwelly but it could be from any town or village across the country.

Painting

One of the questions I am always asked is how do you paint?  Do you work from a photograph?

Well the truth is, it depends.

I am happy to work direct from the subject standing outside with my easel. Last year 60 % of my paintings were done like that.

I am happy to work from a sketch.

I also work from photographs but here is the thing.  I use them as an aid. I use them to provide information as a "reference" The finished painting will not be a duplicate of the photograph, it will not have the same colours but it will be used to provide information on the shapes and proportions of the subject. I am quite often commissioned to work from a photograph or a series of photographs. 

The difficulty in all these methods arises in the amount of detail available to work from.

Artists work in different ways to produce their work and they are all equally valid in my opinion.

Nolton Stable Horses on the Beach at Druidstone

This oil painting is of the Nolton Stable Horses on the Beach at  Druidstone. I did it a few years ago and it is sold.

Watercolour of Lawrenny

The watercolour above is of the pretty little Pembrokeshire Village of Lawrenny. We used to have a mooring for our boat nearby. There are lots of interesting walks in the area and we often took Jac exploring. There weren't really geese in the village but I decided to add a bit of interest in the foreground.

During the war flying boats operated from the waterway. I believe  up until about 5 years ago the yacht station used to have all the winching equipment still intact that was used to pull them up the slipway. These were the smaller Catalinas not the Sunderlands which operated out of Pembroke Dock.